Gov20LA Addresses Data Security, Privacy Risks at the upcoming event on April 28.

After the alarming gap in one of the Internet’s key security methods *Heartbleed* was announced, even organizations that have taken precautions find themselves exposed to risk. Important data such as customer credit card numbers, home addresses, website passwords, and even health records are at stake. A large percentage of organizations have never had a true security audit. How do CEOs, CTOs, Product and Data Managers know if their proprietary and customer data is secure or not? What are risks with 3rd party payment systems? What to do if you have a shared SSL? What is protocol for employees using their own devices? Do you need to share cyber breaches with authorities or not?

These critical and urgent questions will be answered by experts at the upcoming GOV20LA conference including:

Tickets to attend the talks live are limited and are available in advance at http://www.gov20la.com. They will be given on a first come, first serve basis and are expected to go fast. To watch the live stream, people are encouraged to RSVP to the Facebook event page to receive updates and a reminder before the live stream begins here: http://bit.ly/GOV20LA2014.

GOV20LA, an intimate and powerful conference brings together innovative leaders at the intersection of government, tech, and businesses from around the world in an apolitical setting. Every year, the conference covers breaking topics affecting citizens at large with leaders delivering insights into current gov tech issues and cutting-edge technology in an open town hall format such as the Darknet presentation by General Manager of Intel Cloud Services Peter Biddle and the Award-winning Social Media efforts of NASA JPL’s Mars Rover delivered by Veronica McGregor and Stephanie L. Smith at the 2013 event.

After 20 years of experience at the intersection of government and tech, GOV20LA Founder, Alan W. Silberberg says, “My intention has always been to connect the innovative leaders I meet around the world together to share the truly amazing initiatives they are leading within their organizations. I have seen how Countries, States, and localities have instituted changes that were initiated at or following each GOV20LA event and this year is shaping up to be the strongest year in our five year history.”

Emergency First Responders Get Free Admission to Crisis Management Talks at GOV20LA 2014 Led by Experts

Back-to-back earthquakes in Los Angeles and an 8.2 deadly earthquake and tsunami hitting Chile Tuesday night has raised questions and concerns about how prepared emergency first responders, educators, city officials, and citizens are in a world where things can happen in an instant and technology plays front and center.

“This is both a wake up call and a warning. The wake up call is to remember how quickly our sense of normalcy can change to instant chaos. The warning is to be prepared and in an age where social media and real life are so intertwined, all emergency responders should understand technological advances available to them and know how to use them– before we are all in a crisis scenario,” says government technology industry veteran and GOV20LA Founder Alan W. Silberberg.

With experts in cutting-edge advances in crisis management already scheduled to speak at the upcoming 2014 GOV20LA conference, Silberberg announces an open invitation and free admission for emergency responders, educators, and city officials in the greater Los Angeles area to attend, and says he will make the talks available as a live stream online for those unable to attend.

The panel will address the most critical and urgent information First Responders need during and after a crisis that will help them to save lives and property. What is the most vital and valuable technology to have access to during an emergency? How to effectively establish best practices for communicating via digital channels during a crisis? What is the best technology available to communicate if telephone lines and the Internet goes down? How can organizers scale to handle volume of social media users during the frenzy of a crisis? What data is important to prioritize needs? What measures will keep data secure in case of an earthquake where data is stored? All of these questions will be answered by leading experts including:

Who:

Alicia Johnson of the San Francisco City Office for Emergency Response

Tickets to attend the talks live are limited and are available in advance through email request at Gov20la@gmail.com. They will be given on a first come, first serve basis and are expected to go fast. People wanting to watch the live stream are encouraged to sign-up for the event Facebook page to receive updates and a reminder before the stream begins here: http://bit.ly/GOV20LA2014

GOV20LA is an intimate and powerful conference held annually to bring together innovative leaders at the intersection of government, tech, and media from around the world in an apolitical setting. Every year, the conference covers breaking topics affecting citizens at large with leaders delivering insights into current gov tech issues and cutting-edge technology in an open town hall format such as the Darknet presentation by General Manager of Intel Peter Biddle and the Award-winning Social Media efforts of NASA JPL’s Mars Rover delivered by Veronica McGregor and Stephanie L. Smith at the 2013 event.

Wow. There is a sea change happening in the Middle East. The 2013 Iranian Election will mark the end of one cycle, and the beginning of another. What a long path to this point.

The cycle ending is the cycle of the first few revolutions/civil wars and government overthrows that happened in full view of, and in part due to social media. The one beginning is going to become the post-social media middle east. One where the power of the people, won out, country after country.

Just a brief history.

In the late spring and early summer of 2009, Iran was in the throes of pre-election frenzy. There was a moderate trying to overthrow the conservative leadership through peaceful, democratic means. But it turned bad, and turned bad fast. The Green Revolution as it was called, inspired people to great heights of hope and also tremendous depths of despair that resulted from the horrific human rights abuses, torture, death, kidnappings, rapes, that were committed by the Iranian Government and it’s religious and civil allies to prevent the Green Revolution from succeeding.

I documented this struggle of the Green Revolution on Twitter, on Facebook and on You2Gov which was the website I had started in 2008 and which we put into hiatus in 2010. Here is the twitter history. In fact it was this period with the efforts I and many others did to document the digital, social history; and to learn from it that was one of the reasons I started “Gov20LA” in the first place. People’s voices need to be heard. In a good and positive way that allows everyone, those in government and those outside to feel comfortable making changes. Changes have to come from multiple parts of society not just one. But this has to be in moderation.

Since then we have seen the Occupy movements spring up in cities around the world. We have seen Tunisia, and Egypt fall with in the same week almost in 2011. I talked about this at the opening of Gov 2.0 L.A in 2011. We actually did a “Digital Diplomacy Panel” at the 2011 Gov20LA event. In part the exploding use of social media and mobile technology was openly discussed in a live stream during that panel.

Now, we see Turkey struggling with their own version of the “Arab Spring” that many people are referring to as #OccupyGezi on Twitter and other social media. Syria and Russia are going through massive social change again, with Syria in middle of a bloody and growing civil war; and Russia moving to limit rights of protestors, and curtailing free speech more and more.

But four years after the Green Revolution, the people of Iran have delivered a surprise to the world. A moderate. With none of the bloodshed or violence of the Green Revolution from four years ago. This time around #Iranelection is a positive hashtag with huge meaning. No longer meaning death, torture.

I think it is time for Syria, Turkey, Russia to pay attention and start making changes now. Because clearly, the power of the people when amplified by social media and mobility, is world changing power. Power in the hands of the people.

There is temporary bi-partisan outrage at the recent revelations about PRISM and BARNEY and other strangely named programs. Rightfully so. Perhaps it is time for a new version of the Church Commission. The Digital Version. The last time I believe we have seen this type of temporary bipartisanship in the nation’s capitol was actually right after the tragedy of 9.11. So let us unite in a great cause then. Preserving our democracy.

Governments around the world are kind of missing the point. The point is not that they can siphon off our digital lives and chew on the digital breadcrumbs we all leave behind. The point is not that they are spying on us. That part should have been pretty obvious to anyone paying attention to Democracy since the Patriot Act was first written, then edited and updated and added to and continually re-authorized. But don’t kid yourself. This is not new.

The point is: The world has become de-centralized. Your life is decentralized in ways you could not have imagined even 10 years ago. You carry the power of what was the world’s most powerful computer 20 years ago in your pocket now. What used to take the resources of a government agency or large commercial entity can now be done by the crowd-sourcing of your life. You want the best new restaurant in town? Ask your friends on facebook. Need to get instant feedback on something? Tweet it. Want people to do a deep dive on something or really read it? Post it on Google+ or blog it. The point is. That we all can access information about anyone, anytime, almost as simply as by asking.

Technology has just rapidly increased the capabilities and speed of something that in one form or another has been going on for centuries. Governments have long spied on mail sent through postal services. The telegraph and telephone scaled that into a more real time (sort of) methodology. Now we have satellites, digital transmissions and our knowledge skills and access to powerful technology on a scale never seen in human history before. So governments are spying. So are big businesses. Every time you fill out a form online, or submit a sweepstakes entry, or use your credit card, or phone, or email, or go online, or drive your GPS enabled car.

Who then is really Big Brother? Governments around the world using spy gear and deep packet inspections to virtually rape your online life, or the corporations doing the exact same things, and or worse? Welcome to the future. Your future decentralized life. It is here now. Complete with two big brothers. Governments and Corporations.